What We Did
We evaluated the effect of the date of birth on later educational outcomes. New Zealand provides a very interesting – and unique – setting for this because primary school attendance typically starts as soon as a child turns five years old. Depending on the timing of the fifth birthday, children either go to Year 0 or Year 1. They then proceed to the next grade in February the following year, regardless of how much time they have spent in the previous grade.
More specifically, if a child’s birth date is between January and May, that child will often spend the year they turn five in Year 1 and the next year in Year 2. However, if a child’s birth date is between June and December, the young student will usually spend the year they turn five in Year 0 and the next year in Year 1, which means they effectively get more time in the early formal education setting. We found that this additional time in early schooling benefits children all the way to high school. Specifically, controlling for demographic and socio-economic characteristics, we found that an additional month spent in Years 0/1 increases the probability of achieving NCEA level 1 by 2%, NCEA level 2 by 4%, NCEA level 3 by 6%, and University Entrance by 5%. These are large and long-lasting impacts and suggest that many children benefit from a more gradual start in primary school.
Who Was Involved
This study was conducted in a Stats NZ data lab based on the University of Canterbury campus and it received the 2019 Stats NZ Prize for a paper with “the best use of official statistics”.
Why It Matters
The date of birth often determines when and how children in New Zealand start school. While parents may sometimes feel disappointed that their children are initially placed in Year 0 rather than ‘fast-tracked’ directly into Year 1, our study shows that these children actually tend to benefit from their longer, and more gradual, immersion in early schooling.
Learn More
- UC media release: www.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2019/award-winning-research-paper-links-birthdate-with-ncea-results.html
- Coverage in NZ Herald: www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/late-birthday-boosts-high-school-achievement-study/UB2OUTFGZ3VBN2SNZVQI4JY4PA/
- Link to a working paper: Menclova Paper - DocumentCloud
